The Quebec Department of Health reported on Tuesday a total of 90 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the province, an increase of 19 compared to the end of last week.
The latest update, which came in the form of a tweet, also shows that 813 doses of the virus vaccine have been administered so far.
Quebec began administering the Imvamune smallpox vaccine in late May, although it has been reserved for close contacts at high risk of developing the disease.
Read more: Monkeypox, severe hepatitis raise concerns about post-COVID virus outbreaks
Smallpox is a rare disease that comes from the same family of viruses that cause smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated worldwide in 1980.
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The virus spreads through prolonged intimate contact, but is not very contagious in a typical social setting. It can cause fever, headache, muscle aches, exhaustion, swollen lymph nodes and injuries.
Quebec recorded the first cases of smallpox in the country last month. The first suspicious cases were reported on May 12 in Montreal.
More than 700 cases have been detected worldwide in countries where the disease is not common, most in Europe.
– with files by Sean Boynton of Global News and The Canadian Press
4:51 A case of smallpox in BC is confirmed A case of smallpox in BC is confirmed
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